Honda CR-V vs Subaru Forester

The Honda CR-V starts from $39,900 before on-road costs, while the Subaru Forester opens at $43,490. That makes the Honda CR-V the more affordable entry point by $3,590.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $43,890 and $47,839 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the Honda CR-V by roughly $1,995 in fuel alone.

Both the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 88% for the Honda CR-V and 83% for the Subaru Forester.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The Subaru Forester packs more ADAS features with 4 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 3 in the Honda CR-V.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 11 in the Honda CR-V and 9 in the Subaru Forester.

The Honda CR-V features a 9-inch touchscreen paired with a 7-inch digital dash, while the Subaru Forester gets a 11.6-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Honda CR-V stands out with Apple CarPlay and power tailgate that you will not find on the Subaru Forester. The Subaru Forester counters with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The Honda CR-V uses a Petrol producing 140kW and 243Nm of torque, sent through a cvt to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 8.2 seconds.

The Subaru Forester responds with a Petrol making 136kW and 226Nm, paired to a cvt driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 11.2 seconds.

The Honda CR-V has the clear power advantage at 140kW vs 136kW. In the real-world sprint, the Honda CR-V is 3.0s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Honda CR-V measures 4,704mm long on a 2,701mm wheelbase, 49mm longer than the Subaru Forester at 4,655mm (2,670mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Honda CR-V generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 561L in the Honda CR-V and 520L in the Subaru Forester, giving the Honda CR-V a 41L advantage.

For towing, the Subaru Forester leads with a 1,500kg braked capacity vs 1,500kg. That 0kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $1,910/year for the Honda CR-V and $2,309/year for the Subaru Forester. That is a $399 annual difference in favour of the Honda CR-V.

Estimated annual total: $1,910 (Honda CR-V) vs $2,309 (Subaru Forester). The Honda CR-V saves you roughly $399 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (Honda CR-V) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Subaru Forester). Both match on warranty length. Capped-price servicing: 5yr (Honda CR-V)—.